The Merlins and Swifts: after London Transport

This page created 31st March 1998, updated 3rd May 1998
Special thanks to Adrian Clarke for all his photos, and to Paul Watson and Kevin McGowan for additional data
Although London Transport did not find the Merlins and Swifts to their liking for the intended services,
there were many places and bus companies that could make use of their good side, and did.
The following photo album, courtesy of BusSpotter, shows a few of the colourful products of the dispersion.

Click on the images to obtain larger pictures.

Merlins

MB 567 is in operation at Dover with Townsend Thoresen,
sometime in the 80's, as the "cattle-truck" to carry foot-passengers
from the station to the docks.
This operation used the standee facility to its maximum,
but it was not a nice ride for the passengers: Welcome to Britain!

Swifts

SM1 went to work for Blue Triangle, who still had it in early 1998. Rather earlier it is seen at work near Romford.
SM3 was acquired by a West London firm trading as AML: the letters from the Swift registration plate.
It is seen here at a North Weald rally. SM3 was preserved, (below), in LT bullseye livery.